Steven Becker

Biography

 Steven is a vehicle engineer with more than twenty years experience and has worked directly for automotive manufacturers and tier 1 automotive parts suppliers. He provides investigations, reports, and testimony toward the resolution of litigation involving vehicle crashes, fires, and other losses. In the course of his casework, Steven commonly investigates matters involving crash reconstruction, claims of deficient maintenance/repair, and vehicle design defects. As a vehicle engineer, Steven was involved in computer aided design and crash modeling, and physical testing and data analysis for durability and performance; he specialized in noise and vibration engineering. In this role he was responsible for designing vehicle systems, identifying, diagnosing, and remediating noise and vibration throughout entire vehicles. This process involved Steven in the design and engineering of nearly every aspect of the vehicle, from bumpers and occupant protection structures, to engine, drivetrain, and suspension components, and vehicle electronic systems. Steven provided vehicle analyses on the Viper, Sebring, Neon, PT Cruiser and Grand Cherokee vehicle lines while working at Chrysler. He acquired experience with a broad range of vehicle manufacturers, including Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GM, Honda, Land Rover, Nissan, Porsche, and Toyota, Volkswagen during his years at Magna Powertrain. Steven is a degreed Mechanical Engineer as well as a Certified Inspection Mechanic. He is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers and has firsthand experience with the quality assurance programs utilized by the auto industry including Six Sigma, Shainin, Taguchi and Root Cause. Steven carries his passion for vehicles into his personal life as an avid Off-Roader. He has built various recreational vehicles including a modified Jeep as well as a dune buggy.   In addition to his vehicle engineering practice, Steven also extends his experience towards cases involving river rafting, kayaking, and canoeing. Steve has been involved in river running for more than twenty years in recreational and leadership roles. As a white water enthusiast, Steve has paddled rivers up and down the eastern seaboard, as well as rivers in Colorado and Canada. Steve was also actively involved in the Syracuse University Outing Club as a kayaking instructor and later a founding member of the Whitewater Kayaking Club. Steve has taught various safety techniques related to river running, including defensive swimming, aggressive swimming, and a variety of rescue techniques.

Research Interest

 His practice areas include Automobile & Light Truck, Crashworthiness, Crash Reconstruction, Environmental Noise, Failure Analysis & Materials Science, Motorcycle & ATV, Pedestrian Strikes, Traffic Signals & Guidance, Vehicles & Roadway Systems, Video and Imagery Analysis.